PrintI've been told that there's this hot new mode of journalism known as "blogging," which comes from the word "blog," which is short for "weblog." I have decided to get ahead of this emerging trend by starting a blog of my own. I have named it "Jonathan Chait." (Other possible titles I considered were "Jonathan Cohn" and "Michael Crowley." Somehow "Jonathan Chait" seemed to do the best job of capturing the essence of what the blog will be about.) The blog will cover the normal topics I've been writing about in TNR for the last 14 years--politics, policy, and the unending supply of ignorance and venality that makes our public discourse and political system so amusingly dysfunctional. I may include some diversions into my personal obsessions, like college football, Arrested Development, and The Big Lebowski, but these will be kept mercifully brief.
In my efforts to navigate this new online medium, I will be aided by the very smart, able, and preternaturally wise reporter-researcher Amanda Silverman, who is providing me with a steady stream of ideas.
Your letters, submissions, and ideas can be sent to jonathanchait@tnr.com. If you are coming to this item from somewhere other than the home page, you can access it on an ongoing basis here. Go ahead, bookmark it. You can access the RSS feed at this address.
RELATED: TNR Editor Franklin Foer talks about the end of The Plank.
COMMENTS (8)
Great! Especially about The Big Lebowski.
But where's The Plank gone?
Has it been . . . you know, sacrificed?
Great! Especially about The Big Lebowski.
But where's The Plank gone?
Has it been . . . you know, sacrificed?
The Dude abides. I especially like the title. Although I would have gone with a web-only arcane combination of 3 letters having no apparent meaning -- say, VRH or CKL. Just a though.
The Dude abides. I especially like the title. Although I would have gone with a web-only arcane combination of 3 letters having no apparent meaning -- say, VRH or CKL. Just a though.
So subscribed. I wish you well, blogging is such sweet sorrow. Or should it be 'sweet and sour?' Whatever, good luck!
So subscribed. I wish you well, blogging is such sweet sorrow. Or should it be 'sweet and sour?' Whatever, good luck!
Women should not be allowed to like "The Big Lebowski." It's growing on the Sonoma Hooker, and that concerns me.
I'm fine with Chait having his own blog as long as he continues to perform necropsies on his ideological opponents while they are still alive. Few are better at the art of bloodless evisceration, the offering up of still-steaming, throbbing bowel. Were Chait an insect he would likely be a parasitoid wasp, posting critiques like laying an egg inside a caterpillar. In time, the hatchling dines on the living victim from within. Argumentation gnaws on. (Say what you like about the tenets of liberalism, Dude--at least it's an ethos.)
I meant that as a compliment, by the way.
Women should not be allowed to like "The Big Lebowski." It's growing on the Sonoma Hooker, and that concerns me.
I'm fine with Chait having his own blog as long as he continues to perform necropsies on his ideological opponents while they are still alive. Few are better at the art of bloodless evisceration, the offering up of still-steaming, throbbing bowel. Were Chait an insect he would likely be a parasitoid wasp, posting critiques like laying an egg inside a caterpillar. In time, the hatchling dines on the living victim from within. Argumentation gnaws on. (Say what you like about the tenets of liberalism, Dude--at least it's an ethos.)
I meant that as a compliment, by the way.
For reasons of stylistic consistency, shouldn't the blog be called The Jonathan Chait?
For reasons of stylistic consistency, shouldn't the blog be called The Jonathan Chait?
BTW, I love the photo. Fitting Caption: "Roam Alone."
BTW, I love the photo. Fitting Caption: "Roam Alone."
Mr Yard - I'm a gal member of the Lebowski sect, there are lots of out here. But I agree with your sentiments completely. Our preferred nomenclature is "guy chicks" and you can feel at ease that we guard the ethos as you do.
JC, I warn you - you are about to enter a world of pain.
In your blog life, you mustn't change one bit, even to grow. You have the mind of a cheerful litigator and I'm always relieved and delighted that you are on our side. I'm quite sure the earth would eventually fall in to a heap if you dared to change. Just sayin.
Mr Yard - I'm a gal member of the Lebowski sect, there are lots of out here. But I agree with your sentiments completely. Our preferred nomenclature is "guy chicks" and you can feel at ease that we guard the ethos as you do.
JC, I warn you - you are about to enter a world of pain.
In your blog life, you mustn't change one bit, even to grow. You have the mind of a cheerful litigator and I'm always relieved and delighted that you are on our side. I'm quite sure the earth would eventually fall in to a heap if you dared to change. Just sayin.
Chait, I knew the Plank. The Plank was a friend of mine. Chait, you're no Plank.
Chait, I knew the Plank. The Plank was a friend of mine. Chait, you're no Plank.